Nalanda Bulletin Published by Nalanda Buddhist Society TM
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Nalanda Bulletin Published by Nalanda Buddhist Society TM Issue No. 32 | March 2016 | www.nalanda.org.my For Non-Muslims Only NBS 1608 BL An enlightening tour of Borobudur See Pages 18 - 19 Copyright © Nalanda Buddhist Society 2016. All rights reserved. Nalanda Bulletin is also available Contents Issue No. 32 | March 2016 for on-line reading at www.nalanda.org.my Filial piety marks end of Lunar New Year celebrations See Pages 24 - 25 1 Ven. Gunaratana in Borobudur, Indonesia 16 - 17 Training for Dhamma School facilitators 4 Nalanda Free School welcomes teachers and students 18 - 19 An enlightening tour of Borobudur 5 Visit to teachers’ training institute 20 - 21 New Year ‘Open House’ at NEO Centre Sungai Petani 6 - 7 Youths attend meditation retreat 22 Bro. Tan’s Dhamma talk in Indonesia 8 Induction course for parents 23 Volunteer inspired by ‘Pindacāra’ 9 Upbeat first Members’ Day in 2016 24 - 25 Filial piety marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations 10 - 11 Happy indeed is meeting with the wise 26 - 27 Sri Lankan Pāli and Sanskrit scholar monks visit Nalanda 12 Nalanda youths host IPG teacher trainees 28 - 30 News on ‘Wisdom Park’ – Pledge today for a better tomorrow 13 Local Sangha members visit Nalanda Centre 31 Upcoming events in March & April 2016 14 - 15 Dhamma School excursion to foster good friendship 32 Six Well-beings – Physical health | Nalanda Contacts 2 3 Nalanda Free School Principal Sis. Lee and Coordinator Sis. Nandini 4 January welcoming students to their first lesson. 8 January IPG teacher trainees and the visiting Nalanda youths at their first meeting. Nalanda Free School welcomes Visit to teachers’ training institute On Friday 8 January, the Institut Pendidikan We thank IPG Buddhist Society for hosting teachers and students Guru (IPG) Kampus Ilmu Khas Buddhist Nalanda youths with such goodwill. May he new school term for Society invited representatives from our kindled Dhamma friendship continue to Nalanda Free School Nalanda Youth Centre (NYC) to visit them. grow and blossom. (NFS)T in Sri Serdang started Nalanda youths were warmly welcomed by on Monday, 4 January, while the teacher-adviser of IPG Buddhist Society, the Free School in Johor Bahru Bro. Johnny, and several trainee teachers. commenced on 11 January. The purpose of this visit was to foster We would like to extend a spiritual friendship and to forge closer ties warm welcome to all teachers between NYC and IPG Buddhist Society. and students for 2016! During their visit, Nalanda youths ith dedicated and It is regular practice for students at NFS to sit for meditation introduced NYC’s regular activities through Bro. Johnny welcoming Nalanda youths caring volunteer tutors before class to calm their minds and achieve better focus. videos. Bro. Jie Sheng also explained to the IPG campus. andW facilitators, we aim to Nalanda’s Eight Core Values of Compassion, provide quality teaching to Courage, Respect, Integrity, Service, Faith, help students in their academic Learning and Reflection to the trainees. learning. May the students he youths’ visit was fruitful and IPG supported by these free tuition Buddhist Society reciprocated with classes put in their best efforts theirT own visit to Nalanda Centre the in studies. We wish them a following week. Some of IPG’s trainees even happy and beneficial learning went on a recent Putrajaya Botanical Garden experience throughout the Bright-eyed students listening attentively to their teacher excursion organised by Nalanda Dhamma Bro. Jie Sheng presenting Nalanda publications year at NFS! in their new class. School and the NYC. to the Society’s teacher-adviser Bro. Johnny. 4 5 Group photograph of the teacher, participants, organisers, and volunteers. 9 January Sadhu and well-done everyone! Youths attend meditation retreat Nalanda Youth Centre began its 2016 calendar of events with a one-day meditation retreat on 9 January. 126 youths from Malaysia and overseas gathered for the retreat which was guided by Nalanda founder, Bro Tan. Participants benefited from the spiritually uplifting programme, and agreed that it was a great way to start the Participants doing walking meditation. New Year! alanda Youth Centre would like to thank Bro. Tan for his invaluable guidance,N as well as the participants for their active involvement. We are grateful to the organising team and volunteers for helping to make this retreat a success. We look forward to having another Dhamma retreat Bro. Tan conducting the one-day D.I.Y. soon. Sadhu anumodana! Youths take time to get to know each other better. meditation retreat at Nalanda Centre. 6 7 Bro. Aggaphala (standing, right) conducting Honorary Secretary Bro. Pee welcoming Nalandians 10 January the first session of the Induction Programme. 10 January to the first Members’ Day in 2016. Induction course for parents Upbeat first Members’ Day in 2016 On Sunday 10 January, parents of newly- The first Nalanda Members’ Day meeting for enrolled Dhamma School students and 2016 was held on Sunday, 10 January. It was new-comers to Nalanda Centre were invited an energetic event as the members were still to attend the first session of ‘Svagatam’ in high spirits after a successful 4th Members’ Induction Programme (SIP). The six-session Convention in Kedah a month ago. course aims to introduce Buddhist values, After the usual round of reports on the Society’s culture and etiquette to its participants. It happenings, Bro. Tan updated members on the also aims to provide essential knowledge on progress of Wisdom Park. This was followed how to live in accordance with Dhamma. by a short video presentation of the recent The first session conducted by Bro. Aggaphala Participants of the ‘Svagatam’ Induction Members’ Convention in Sungai Petani, Bro. Tan updating Nalanda members on the Programme enjoying their first session. progress of Wisdom Park project. Yap focused on Nalanda’s Eight Core Values and a simple ceremony to acknowledge the of Compassion, Courage, Respect, Integrity, contributions of some exemplary Nalandians Service, Faith, Learning and Reflection. Bro. who had done the Society proud by their Yap also spoke about the purpose and benefits selfless service and dedication. of frequenting Buddhist centres. alandians are looking forward to Devotees and parents felt glad to take part in another progressive year in 2016, with this interesting and interactive programme. Nthe implementation of the “Dhamma Family” We thank Bro. Aggaphala for conducting system and the reconstruction of Nalanda the informative first session of SIP, and all House in Sri Serdang. We wish all members, participants for attending the course. Sadhu benefactors, supporters and volunteers the ‘Exemplary Nalandian’ Sis. May receiving anumodana! Lots of sharing and laughter best of health, joy and success. Sadhu! a token of appreciation from Bro. Tan during the group discussion. on behalf of all members. 8 9 Visiting the Buddhist Māha Vihāra in Brickfields and paying respects at the memorial stupa of its late abbot – Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda, who was a contemporary and benefactor of Ven. Gunaratana. Ven. Gunaratana visiting the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Sentul, KL. 12 January Accompanying him were Ven. Mangala (left) and Bro Tan. Happy indeed is meeting with the wise While sojourning at Nalanda Centre in came to pay their respects to Ven. Gunaratana January, Venerable Sri Pandita Henepola at Nalanda Centre. Meeting with fellow monks Gunaratana took the opportunity to visit the and talking about the Dhamma gave Ven. Buddhist Māha Vihāra in Brickfields, and the Gunaratana immense joy and satisfaction. Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Sentul, Kuala We would like to thank all the venerables Lumpur. Accompanying him were Ven. for their gracious visits and kind hospitality Mangala, Bro. Tan and a few Nalandians. shown to Ven. Gunaratana while he was here Meeting the current abbot of Buddhist Māha Vihāra, Besides the visits, several other venerables also in Malaysia. Ven. K. Dhammaratana. Bro. Tan briefing Ven. Gunaratana on the proposed extension to the main building of Buddhist Māha Vihāra. Bro. Tan sharing the history of Buddhist Māha Vihāra with Nalandian youths. 10 11 15 January IPG Buddhist Society members and their Nalandian hosts. 22 January The visiting venerables with Nalandians at the library. Nalanda youths host IPG trainees Local Sangha members visit Nalanda On Friday 15 January, seven teacher On Friday 22 January, members trainees from the Institut Pendidikan of the local Sangha Ven. Zhen Guru (IPG) Kampus Ilmu Khas Buddhist Che (振澈法师), Ven. Pu Hui Society visited Nalanda Centre on a (普辉法师), Ven. Pu Ye (普悦 familiarisation tour. The trainees were 法师) and Ven. Shi Di (实谛 accompanied by IPG Buddhist Society’s 法师) came to Nalanda for a visit. teacher-adviser Bro. Johnny Tan, and They were warmly greeted by the lecturer Bro. K. J. Teo. They were hosted by Director of Nalanda Centre Sis. Nalanda youths who received their guests Nandini, who led them on a tour of The venerables exchanging views with warmly and made them feel most welcome. Sis. Sunanda giving a Dhamma sharing the building. Bro. Tan on the development of on the‘Miracle of Education’. Buddhist education in the country. The trainees were taken on a tour of he venerables later met with Nalanda Centre and the Youth Centre. Nalanda founder Bro. Tan The lecturers and trainees also took part in andT they exchanged views on the a chanting session, with Dhamma School development of Buddhism and Director Sis. Sunanda giving a sharing on Buddhist education in Malaysia. the ‘Miracle of Education’. The venerables were impressed by The visit was very fruitful as it the range and standard of Buddhist strengthened the bond between the two educational programmes offered at societies. We thank our guests from IPG Nalanda. We thank the venerables Buddhist Society for their visit and look for their kind visit and offer them forward to seeing them again soon! Bro.